Abstract

Management of ageing assets has become a high priority in countries across the world. Effective management of these assets requires condition assessment. This involves the collection of information about the pipes' condition, analysis of this information and, ultimately, action. In-pipe inspections have become an integral part of risk management and maintenance in the world's oil and gas sector. In fact, many of these pipes have been designed with internal inspection in mind. Although there are fundamental differences between the systems of oil and gas operators and water system operators, the concept of a risk-based approach to asset management is still applicable. South Africa, in particular, is faced with the challenge of ageing water infrastructure. Coupled with the current water shortages,there is increasing pressure on utilities to have a clear understanding of how their assets are performing in order to prioritise rehabilitation or replacement programmes.